FRIA, Guinea — When Kazaliou Balde was a small child, his parents grew concerned after noticing he avoided making eye contact and struggled to communicate with those around him.
The family, living in the West African nation of Guinea, first sought help from a traditional healer who recommended protective amulets. But as the boy began dragging himself along the ground rather than walking, his family took him to a hospital in the capital city of Conakry, where doctors diagnosed him with autism — a condition the family had never encountered before.
Their neighbors hadn’t heard of it either. Some responded with cruelty toward the child.
“Some suggested that I take him to the bush and throw him away,” said his mother, Kadiatou Diallo, a 55-year-old trader.
Misunderstandings about autism are widespread in parts of Africa where reliable data, public awareness, and government support are largely absent. Some people incorrectly link autism to evil spirits. Experts warn that these misconceptions frequently delay diagnosis and heap stigma onto affected children and their families.
Autism — now formally referred to as autism spectrum disorder — is a complex developmental condition that affects individuals in a variety of ways. It can involve delays in language, learning, or social and emotional development. While some people experience profound autism, which may mean being nonverbal and having intellectual disabilities, the majority of those on the spectrum experience milder effects.
Guinea’s government does not track autism data. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one in 127 people worldwide had autism in 2021, though it acknowledges that prevalence rates in many lower- and middle-income countries are still unknown.
Rather than give in to community pressure, Diallo chose to advocate for her son. She said that while she has four children, she has a special love for him “because I’ve suffered so much with him.”
In Guinea, a country of roughly 15 million people, only a handful of schools serve children with autism, and tuition can reach as much as $300 per month. That price tag is far beyond the reach of most families in a country where the minimum monthly wage is 550,000 Guinea francs — the equivalent of about $63 — and where 43.7% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
“In Guinea, the care for autism is very poor,” said Dr. Alhassane Cherif, a psychologist and clinician based in Conakry. “Private organizations and nonprofits are the only ones addressing this disorder and training staff to try to identify children.”
Balde attended both private and public schools early on, but none were equipped to meet his needs. His teachers never taught him to read or write, according to his mother, who recalled being told that her son “has no provision for school.”
“I refused to consider these negative judgments. I refused to take him out of school,” Diallo said.
She also shared that her late husband had “gone to every corner of the country” in search of help for their son before losing his life in a road accident.
Help eventually came from within their own community.
In 2023, Balde enrolled in the newly established Salim Foundation for Children with Autism, an uncommon free school serving children with autism. School staff discovered Balde while conducting an outreach program and reached out to his family directly.
The school serves Balde and 14 other students in a large house staffed by three teachers. Colorful toys fill the rooms, and pictures of animals decorate the walls.
Although the school is registered with Guinea’s educational authorities, it receives no government funding. It was founded by Mariam Aisha Barry, a social worker and philanthropist who said her own daughter with autism inspired her to create it.
Students at the school learn foundational skills such as identifying objects and assembling toys, along with everyday tasks like using a TV remote control.
Last year, the school organized what it described as the country’s first international seminar focused on autism.
“Our mission is to break the stigma surrounding autism through awareness-raising, family training and advocacy for better care. These children deserve acceptance, understanding, education and unconditional love,” Barry said.
Despite his progress, Balde — now 15 years old — still faces exclusion outside of school. Many in the community continue to believe his condition is tied to some unknown evil force and push for him to be shunned.
“I categorically refused,” his mother said.
Research on autism has historically focused on high-income countries, leaving places like Guinea with little scientific attention. That imbalance makes it harder to pinpoint risk factors or develop effective treatment approaches, according to experts.
A 2023 study published in the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders described sub-Saharan Africa as “critically understudied” in autism research, noting that the region’s “rich genetic diversity” could contribute meaningfully to global understanding of the condition.
That research gap has discouraged many parents from seeking help for their children.
“We have 15 autistic children here, but there are several hundred in this city. Some parents hide them in their homes to avoid mockery and stigmatization,” said Hassanatou Diallo, advocacy officer at the Salim school.
Despite the enormous obstacles she has faced, Balde’s mother says she has no intention of giving up on her son’s future.
“My most ardent wish is that he knows how to read and write,” she said.
